The Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia

Summary

With more than 1,100 species of reptiles and around 250 species of frogs, Australia is hailed as one of the most herpetologically diverse countries on Earth. The island continent boasts habitats ranging from dense tropical rainforests and vast tropical savannahs to sandy and stony deserts, tall temperate forests, complex heaths and alpine herbfields. Each region supports its own distinctive associations of reptile and amphibian species. This tour has been specially curated to explore some of the most impressive of these bioregions: rainforests of north-east Queensland’s Wet Tropics; tropical savannahs, wetlands and escarpments in the Top End of the Northern Territory; sand dunes and outcrops in Alice Springs.

Our journey begins with a four night visit to the Wet Tropics focusing mainly on the Atherton Tablelands, an upland region above the city of Cairns. It features Australia’s finest tropical rainforest, Queensland’s tallest mountains, volcanic lakes, countless watercourses, and includes a mix of dry tropical forest and woodland.

We then fly to Darwin, the tropical northern city where daily maximum temperatures seldom fall below 30 degrees Celsius. Using Darwin as a base for three nights we can visit the old WWII base of Snake Creek near the town of Adelaide River, where nature is re-claiming the sheet-iron buildings and concrete bunkers, Howard Springs where Mertens’ Water Monitors pay little heed to the human visitors, Fogg Dam with its abundant pythons in a complex wetland ecology and Litchfield National Park featuring fabulous rock formations. We will then move on for three nights to Kakadu National Park, a land of spectacular sandstone escarpments, timeless galleries of rock art, wetlands and tropical savannahs.

Flying south to central Australia we will base ourselves for three nights in the regional capital, Alice Springs, nestled at the base of the MacDonnell Ranges. We will travel to the West MacDonnell Ranges which harbour hidden treasures such as deep red gorges sheltering permanent water.

An optional extension to Yulara, gateway to the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), offers a further experience and range of fantastic species.

• Led by renowned Australian herpetologist and field guide author Steve Wilson
• Search for Amethyst Python, Australia’s largest snake
• Many other snakes possible including Northern Death Adder, Night Tiger Tree Snake and Arafura File Snake
• Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko, Chameleon Gecko, Boyd’s Forest Dragon, Kimberley Rock Monitor and a wealth of other lizards
• See the aggregation of Saltwater Crocodiles at the famous Cahill’s Crossing at Kakadu
• Such incredible mammals as Platypus and Tree Kangaroo
• Beautiful butterflies including Ulysses and Cairns Birdwing